Welcome to Norwich, the City of Stories

Harriet Martineau first became an event at the Norfolk & Norwich Festival in 2013 as part of The Harriet Martineau Lectures in the City of Literature programme, organised by the National Centre for Writing. And the series started with a bang! Ali Smith delivered the first lecture and for anyone in the audience (including us) – goodness we were in for a surprise. Harriett was the world’s first female retained journalist. She was a progressive thinker and bestselling writer and she spent much of her life fighting for women’s rights, the abolition of slavery, economic fairness and racial equality. In general, she wanted a more just society. How she never quite got the worldwide recognition she deserved, no one quite knows. But there’s still time. Harriet Martineau wrote about and became well known (from 1832) for her stories about how the economic conditions of the time impacted on ordinary people. She travelled the world. In 1834 she visited America for 2 years where she became involved with the anti-slavery cause. A subject she wrote about all through her life. She wrote travel books on America, the Middle East (mentioned in Ali’s lecture) and fiction. As well as an autobiography which was posthumously published in 1877. Her friends and acquaintances included Florence Nightingale, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Charlotte Brontë, George Eliot and Charles Dickens. As well as Princess Victoria who went on to be crowned Queen Victoria – Harriet attended her coronation in 1838. Her character quite something – described by the sisters of Charles Darwin to him in a letter as “a great Lion in London”. The Ali Smith lecture (and all the lectures that followed) will fill you in with all the incredible detail. This will be 60 minutes you will really enjoy. We can’t say enough to do justice to the works and character of Harriet Martineau. Her story is exciting, sometimes amusing and very inspirational. Check out the link in our bio to watch the lecture series 🔝 #harrietmartineau #writer #author #nationalcentreforwriting #norwich #cityofstories #UNESCOCityofLiterature #UEA #literature #travelwriter #history #historiccity #dragonhall #lovegreatbritain

This is one incredible collection. From one incredibly generous man - John Newstead. John was a pharmacist in Norwich who began collecting in the 1960’s when he noticed times were changing. His painstaking work was taken from 60 pharmacies across East Anglia which he then donated to the museum in 1984. ** ** The Pharmacy is beautifully displayed behind glass, however there’s a fantastic interactive display to help you view what’s kept in the drawers. If you look carefully see delightful coloured glass bottles of all shapes and sizes. Full of potions, pills and chemicals - everything in its original packaging. Until the National Health Service began in 1948 pharmacists would create their own medicines which would be recorded in a Prescription Book. ** ** The Pharmacy is just one of 150 high resolution images featured on Google Arts & Culture: Museum of Norwich. On this platform see and read the story of Norwich which includes the production of textiles, shoes, mustard, chocolate and even Christmas crackers. ** ** In the museum itself there are stories of quirky characters such as Rumsey Wells an international milliner (there’s now a pub The Rumsey Wells where his shop stood) - who knew a thing or two about PR! About Jack Valentine and Valentine’s Eve. Learn about the invention of wire netting, Norwich weavers, publicans and breweries and the Norwich Speedway scene. Meet Captain Canary. There are plenty of hand’s on, interactive displays - loads of dressing up and you can sit and play games in the 1950’s sitting room. For when we can get out and about again, this is a fantastic museum to visit.

Live webcam of Peregrines at Norwich Cathedral. Built between 1096 & 1145, Norwich Cathedral is one of the most complete Romanesque buildings in Europe and in our humble opinion, one of the most incredible. It’s amazing that it’s original Norman ground plan is still intact as over its 900 year history it’s seen pretty much everything. Including gales, fires, lightening strikes, riots & wars. It’s been ravaged and plundered, rebuilt & restored and it still sits proud. ** ** Set in 85 acres of grounds, the cathedral is located in the heart of Norwich and in the heart’s of many of its people. Enter by either Erpingham or Ethelbert Gate - both lead to the Cathedral Close which is the largest to survive in England. The grounds of the cathedral are known locally as the ‘village within the city’. The image here is one of many quaint houses facing the ‘village green’. ** ** In recent years the cathedral has been home to Peregrine falcons who have been breeding high up in the spire. A live webcam follows their daily activity. ** ** Watch the Peregrine’s live with hawkandowltrust.org or go to our Community Hub which is linked from the VisitNorwich home page. Go to the Watch & Explore section. ** ** #peregrinefalcon #livewebcam #hawkandowltrust #breeding #eggs #beattheboredom #allinthistogether #norwich #cityofstories #cathedral #norwichcathedral #birds #birdwatching #UKcity #historiccity #villagegreen #architecture #lovegreatbritain #outdoorspace #spring

Norwich Market was a hive of activity this morning with all our wonderful fresh food stalls replenishing stocks. They’re working extra long hours but we all appreciate their efforts. If you haven’t shopped at #norwichmarket before now is the time to change your shopping habits. 😍😍😍